ICAC should look at Canada Bay Land Deals : Greens

ICAC Should Look at Canada Bay Land Deals: Greens Councillor and MP.

Bernard Rooney, Greens Councillor on Canada Bay Council, has today written to the ICAC supporting calls for it to investigate the sale of community land in the “Strathfield triangle” by Canada Bay Council to a private developer.

“I am concerned about a number of issues in regard to the Council’sactivities in relation to the ‘Strathfield Triangle’, which is located adjacent to Strathfield Station. I seek an investigation of certain matters in order to re-establish the community’s confidence in the Council’s governance,” said Mr Rooney in his letter to the ICAC.

Mr Rooney’s letter asks the ICAC to investigate alleged preferential treatment of a developer in the sale of properties and approval of floor space ratios.

Mr Rooney’s call was supported by Sylvia Hale, a Greens member of the NSW Upper House and spokesperson on local government and planning.

“There is a significant level of community concern arising from the sale of that land and the other related decisions by the Council. An investigation by an independent body is the best way for the facts to be brought out into the open so that community confidence can be restored,” said Ms Hale.

President of the NSW Local Government Association, Genia McCaffery, has previously been quoted calling for an independent inquiry into the land deals. (SMH, 14 June 2007).

UPDATE: The Inner West Weekly reports on the issue, covering the reaction from other Councillors to Cr. Cantali’s position.